Category Archives: Best Practices

Is Your Congregation Ready to Explore Accessible to All (A2A)?

Featured

Posted on by

The UCCDM encourages all setting of the United Church of Christ to be Accessible to All (A2A)!

New tools are NOW ready to help local congregations determine how accessible their programs and buildings are. (Accessibility is more than a ramp!) This tool is called the Church Building And Program Accessibility Audit. This church accessibility audit can be completed online (Church Building and Program Audit ONLINE). It is also available to be printed as a PDF (UCCDM Church Building and Program Audit 12 pt PDF), LARGE PRINT PDF (UCCDM Church Building and Program Audit 16 pt PDF), Word Document (UCCDM Church Building and Program Audit 12 pt WORD), and LARGE PRINT Word Document (UCCDM Church Building and Program Audit 16 pt WORD).

Once a congregation completes a building and program audit and has identified how to become more (or continue being) inclusive of people with disabilities or/and mental health concerns, the congregation may be ready to become Accessible to All (A2A). To become A2A a congregation completes an A2A Checklist. The checklist was revised in 2016 is available to be completed online (UCCDM A2A Checklist ONLINE)or printed as a PDF (UCCDM A2A Checklist PDF) or in LARGE PRINT (UCCDM A2A Checklist LARGE PRINT PDF).

Congregations that complete the A2A Checklist are added to the A2A Listing!

In the News: UCC Congregation Uses Technology to Become Accessible to Persons with Hearing Loss

Posted on by

The UCC News has published an article about First Congregational Church in Madison, Wis. which recently installed T-Coil in the sanctuary. The T-Coil Technology allows those with hearing impairments to better hear the service. It is one step the church is taking toward becoming A2A. Congregation Installs T-Coil for Accessibility for People with Hearing Loss

Widening the Welcome III

Posted on by

Widening the Welcome III, the third disability ministries conference to be sponsored by UCCDM and the UCC Mental Illness Network will be held at the Holiday Inn, Columbus-Worthington in Columbus, Ohio from November 1-3, 2012.

For full conference information please see the Widening the Welcome Conference website at:

Widening the Welcome Website

Amazing and well known speakers have been scheduled. Continuing Education Credits are being offered for Chaplains. And a wonderful of time of fellowship for ALL is planned. We hope to see you there!

Ten Commandments for Being Around Users of Wheelchairs

Posted on by

A Reading the Signs column

I no longer recall which came first, the fall on an icy sidewalk that necessitated a lesson for Treasure in how to dog guide a walker-using partner or the timely Christmas letter from Rachel Scott. My friend of years is a retired nurse/instructor in gerontology who has mastered the graceful art of using a wheelchair.
Continue reading →